Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-16-2004, 01:36 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Reno/Sparks, NV
Posts: 3,063
Mobil 1 0W-40 vs 15W-50 - My Experience

I recently switched to synthetic from regular 15W-40 in my 82 300D. For ease of starting and low startup wear I decided to first try 0W-40. This was about a month ago. I noticed instantly that the car idled rougher when cold. Well I lived with it for over a month until I decided to try the thicker 15W-50 oil and dump $50 worth of new oil. Boy what a difference! Now I have a smooth cold idle again. My oil consumption was low even on the thinner oil, but I think what's happening here is that the thicker oil naturally dampens any vibration that a cold diesel engine may be producing.

I also started using the 15W-50 in my 87 300D and noticed like others were saying on this board that the engine runs quieter, at least when it's warmed up. This oil is a miracle!

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-16-2004, 09:41 AM
jobah's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chicago native-W.MI transplant
Posts: 281
That may be true, but in cold climates, the 0w 40 really makes starting a breeze. It was 5 below zero F this morning (-5F), and my 190 sat outside for three days before I tried to start it this morning. With 0w40 in it, it immediately started on the first turn, with only one glow cycle.
__________________
Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-16-2004, 10:02 AM
Rafi's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Garden State
Posts: 474
Question why use gasoline oil?

Why do people use gasoline motor oil in their diesels when there is diesel motor oil available, like Delvac among many?
__________________
2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-16-2004, 10:05 AM
adamb's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 321
The mobil 1 0w40 and 15w50 are both diesel rated as "cf" in addition to having gasoline certifications. the "cf" rating is perfectly suitable for our diesel cars.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-16-2004, 10:24 AM
jobah's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chicago native-W.MI transplant
Posts: 281
Exactly. While Delvac is a good --- great--- oil, there are others with the proper classification for diesel, including but not limited to Shell Rotella and Mobil 1. Which leads me to question why people make comments when they lack the backround knowledge.
__________________
Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-16-2004, 11:39 AM
Stevo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NW WA
Posts: 6,299
"why people make comments when they lack the backround knowledge."

jobah

We are not exactly a "panel of experts" here. I dont think anyone would intentionally give misleading information, lets not discourage discussion.
__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-16-2004, 11:43 AM
jobah's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chicago native-W.MI transplant
Posts: 281
You are right.

Tough morning, and I was afraid of another oil thread.

Sorry if I offended anyone.
__________________
Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-16-2004, 01:11 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Reno/Sparks, NV
Posts: 3,063
Quote:
Originally posted by jobah
You are right.

Tough morning, and I was afraid of another oil thread.

Sorry if I offended anyone.
Some of you guys are funny. It's like we must not have another oil thread or it will be the end of humanity! But this is clearly not just "another" oil thread because it's specifically about my experience and not a general question. So humanity will live on.

About Delvac 1, I would probably buy it if it were readily available, but it's not. On second thought, since my 82 300D likes to shake when cold, the thicker oil seems to be better for it and I'm not sure it would like the 5W-40 Delvac. I did try the non-synthetic Delvac 1300 and the idle was smooth, but after 2000 miles it seemed to have thickened up so much that the car wouldn't even start. This is one of the reasons I went for synthetic.

Obviously 0W-40 with its -65F pour point will do a better job than 15W-50 with its -49F pour point in extremely cold temps, but it's not very cold over here. Most of the time the lows are in the teens or above.
__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-17-2004, 10:48 AM
Stevo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NW WA
Posts: 6,299
"I had bought AMSOIL in quarts"

dieseldiehard

I have used Amsoil 15/40 since we bought a 240D for our daughter and the owner had used it since the car had 40k on it (200K when we bought it). I became a dealer to get it cheaper, the problem is it cost $20.00 a year to be a dealer so I bought a 55 gal drum (delivered to my door) which brought the price down to $3.49 a qt, actually less than that, as they send me a "rebate" . Still a major investment but I like Amsoil and its handy having it on hand. They make a good 100/1, 2 cycle oil that I use in my chain saw also.
__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-17-2004, 11:59 AM
michakaveli's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,719
So I'm assuming that just because it has the "minimum" cert rating that it is sufficient to use.

How about, how does this oil suspend soot and other agents that increase engine wear. You you can use just about any oil you want, but does it actually perform the duties that a diesel engine requires for efficient and lasting reduced wear operability?

If what some are saying is correct? Why even consider Delvac 1 and the likes?
__________________
#dieselFLEET
---------------
'97 E300
'99 E300
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-17-2004, 01:06 PM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I know it's not a diesel...

Quote:
Originally posted by michakaveli
If what some are saying is correct? Why even consider Delvac 1 and the likes?
We happened to have two Dodge neons come through our shop. One asked for our "Bulk" pensoil 10w-30, the other had his own AMSOil 10w-30 and filter.

The difference was quite amazing. The first one had the normal g@sser valve clatrer and ran like a normal engine should. The second, even with 30K MILES on the old oil, was dead quiet and even more smooth when compared to the first. No valve or combustion noise at all.

If I didn't have any leaks, my TD would be running AMSOIL or Delvac-1 already.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-21-2004, 01:57 PM
2.5 TURBO
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Send me back to Atlanta
Posts: 876
No Mobil 1 15-40W oil anymore for Diesels

Ran down to 4 auto parts stores and could not find Mobil 1 15-40W all they had was the 15-50W or 0-40W, so I came back to their website and it no longer exists.. it recommends 15-50W.. what a deal...
__________________
2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-31-2004, 02:48 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MA
Posts: 764
jobah,

when did you switch to synthetic for your 375 k miles diesel?

Was your first synthetic 0W-40?
Did you have leak? Did you do some diagnosis before your decision?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-31-2004, 07:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Mustang, OK
Posts: 509
Here's my experience with my 190D 2.2:

I ran Mobil 1 Delvac 5w40 for 2 changes (approx 1 year). The car ran much better than when I got it, but the Delvac was very hard to get.

Last oil change, I switched to shell rotella 5w40. I think I like it better. It runs smoother at speed and idles smoother.

No oil analysis here, just an observation.

I also found that either oil change made it much easier to start when the car was left outside even down to 8 deg F. I also had the valve cover off a couple of weeks ago and found the cam, valve cover, and head spotless.

So, I recommend any good qualified synthetic for just the starting behavior and smooth running.

Sholin
__________________
What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-31-2004, 08:54 PM
Ler Ler is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 34
Semi-related observation, about viscosity

I just changed from Pennzoil 20w-50 to Rotella T 5w-40, and on the first tankful, got 25.5mpg (vs. 24 for 20w-50). Feels like the engine revs more freely, and looks like it's running consistently cooler by ~5-10°C. I'll see if the mpg increase is consistent with this next tankful.

BTW, 83 300TD

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page